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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 577 records · Page 32
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Effect of Flight on the Noise from Turbulent Jets in the Generalized Acoustic Analogy

This presents an extension of a noise prediction method for static jets based on the Generalized Acoustic Analogy to include a non-zero ambient stream to simulate the effects of flight. Extended formulae for the propagator functions, source terms and the far-field acoustic spectrum are derived. The formulations of the equation and the boundary conditions for numerical solution of the scalar adjoint Green’s function in the presence of a non-zero ambient stream are also given. Wherever possible, the corresponding equations in the original papers for the static case and their extensions to include a flight stream are identified. The extended formulation is implemented into an existing code and used to make predictions of the effect of the flight stream on the observed far-field noise for a series of subsonic, unheated, axisymmetric jets over a range of jet-exit and free-stream velocities using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes flow solutions as input. The predictions are compared with data from experiments conducted at NASA Glenn Research Center which extend a fundamental jet noise database to include a flight stream of various speeds. Descriptions of the experimental setup, data acquisition, post-processing and corrections applied to account for the external shear-layer are given. It is shown that the acoustic analogy-based method can provide reasonably good predictions of the impact of an external flight stream on the spectral characteristics of noise from unheated round jets.

Jet noise↗
DOE OSTI2025

Synapse v1.0

Synapse (SYNergistic software platform for AI, Physics Simulations, and Experiments) is a software package meant to deploy real-time guidance from simulations during experimental campaigns, The software package contains functionalities to collect data from simulations (e.g. running at NERSC) and experiments (e.g. from the BELLA facility at LBNL) into a database, train ML surrogate models from this data, and display the predictions of the surrogate model in the control room of an experimental facility, so as to guide on-going experimental campaign. This software was developed as part of an on-going LDRD.

Lehe, Remi [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ↗
DOE OSTI2019

Development of a Thermochemical Database for Sodium Fast Reactor Mechanistic Source Term Calculations

An accurate assessment of the radionuclide source term for sodium fast reactors requires a predictive understanding of the chemical speciation and phase transformations of key dose contributing radionuclides, including those released to the sodium pool and cover gas region. Developing models for chemical speciation and phase equilibria requires the compilation of thermodynamic constants and experimentally determined functions that account for non-ideal solution behavior. For the present study, a thermochemical database, including parameters accounting for non-ideal chemical mixing, was compiled and used for a set of mechanistic source term trial calculations for a metal-fueled, pool-type sodium fast reactor [1].

Jerden, James↗
DOE OSTI2017

Development of a thermodynamic database for a new fuel alloy design

The scope of the FY17 milestone involved the development of a thermodynamic database for the Mo-Ti-Zr ternary system to support the design of new pseudo-binary actinide-M fuel alloy, where M is a ternary metallic additive composed of Mo, Ti and Zr. Optimization of thermodynamic parameters for the three binary subsystems, Mo-Zr, Mo-Ti and Zr-Ti, has been performed using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) approach with inputs from both experiments gathered from the literature and density functional theory (DFT) total energy calculations performed in this work. Using the present database, the stability range of the bcc phase in the Mo-Ti-Zr ternary system is predicted and the results are in very good agreement with available experimental data at 600°C and 750°C. The present work can directly contribute to the future development of a multicomponent thermodynamic database for the quaternary U-Mo-Ti-Zr system.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Automated Algorithms for Band Gap Analysis from Optical Absorption Spectra

As high-throughput combinatorial experimental methods become more common, the technical challenge is shifting from producing materials to dealing with increasingly large datasets. One of the most important metrics to determine suitability of semiconductor materials for various applications is the band gap. This paper discusses automated algorithms for determining band gaps from optical absorption spectra. The algorithms are applied to a database of 34,313 optical absorption spectra, and selected results are compared to published theoretical and experimental band gap data from 16 materials sets. The best algorithm determines the band gaps with an accuracy of 0.37 eV for direct- and 0.93 eV for indirect band gaps for >20,000 spectra.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2016

Online Monitoring of Induction Motors

The online monitoring of active components project, under the Advanced Instrumentation, Information, and Control Technologies Pathway of the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program, researched diagnostic and prognostic models for alternating current induction motors (IM). Idaho National Laboratory (INL) worked with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to augment and revise the fault signatures previously implemented in the Asset Fault Signature Database of EPRI’s Fleet Wide Prognostic and Health Management (FW PHM) Suite software. Induction Motor diagnostic models were researched using the experimental data collected by Idaho State University. Prognostic models were explored in the set of literature and through a limited experiment with 40HP to seek the Remaining Useful Life Database of the FW PHM Suite.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Intrinsic value of the international benchmark projects, ICSBEP and IRPhEP, for advanced reactor development

The International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project, a sanctioned program under the auspices of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, has been a highly successful and productive collaboration, now encompassing over 5,000 evaluated experimental benchmarks trusted and relied upon throughout the international nuclear communities. The success of this project led to the development of the International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project, which is dedicated to the evaluation of benchmark experiment data to sustain current and future reactor physics validation needs. These exemplary programs, and their widely utilized handbooks, serve as gold standards to which other databases strive to emulate. The purpose of the two projects is to preserve modern and legacy experimental data and evaluate it in a standardized handbook format to provide quality benchmarks to support modern and future criticality safety and reactor physics validation. These two projects have often served as the mechanism through which historic and modern neutronics experiments are evaluated and shared across international borders, to best provide unique, high-quality peer-reviewed, and often otherwise unavailable, benchmark data. The contents of these handbooks are utilized not only in validating criticality safety, reactor physics, and advanced reactor calculations, but are used to validate neutronics calculations and nuclear data for most other nuclear applications. This paper discusses both international programs and available content to enable advanced reactor design validation.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS2011

Modeling Powered Aerodynamics for the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle Aerodynamic Database

Modeling the aerodynamics of the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle (LAV) has presented many technical challenges to the developers of the Orion aerodynamic database. During a launch abort event, the aerodynamic environment around the LAV is very complex as multiple solid rocket plumes interact with each other and the vehicle. It is further complicated by vehicle separation events such as between the LAV and the launch vehicle stack or between the launch abort tower and the crew module. The aerodynamic database for the LAV was developed mainly from wind tunnel tests involving powered jet simulations of the rocket exhaust plumes, supported by computational fluid dynamic simulations. However, limitations in both methods have made it difficult to properly capture the aerodynamics of the LAV in experimental and numerical simulations. These limitations have also influenced decisions regarding the modeling and structure of the aerodynamic database for the LAV and led to compromises and creative solutions. Two database modeling approaches are presented in this paper (incremental aerodynamics and total aerodynamics), with examples showing strengths and weaknesses of each approach. In addition, the unique problems presented to the database developers by the large data space required for modeling a launch abort event illustrate the complexities of working with multi-dimensional data.

Chan, David T.↗
DOE OSTI2018

FY 2018 Annual Status Report for the Nuclear Fuels and Materials Library

The Nuclear Fuels and Materials Library (NFML), which is owned by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) and curated by the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF), is a collection of specialized information and nuclear fuel and material samples from past and ongoing irradiation test campaigns. The NFML also includes real-world components retrieved from decommissioned power reactors and donations from other sources. The NFML can be accessed through a web portal at the NSUF web page NSUF.INL.gov or directly at https://nsuf-infrastructure.inl.gov/. The NFML was conceived shortly after the NSUF was established in 2007. The concept was to offer Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) irradiated materials and NSUF project samples that were stored in Idaho National Laboratory (INL) hot cells to researchers for use in NSUF-awarded research projects. The NFML catalogue began as a series of electronic spreadsheets gathered from principal investigators (PI) and INL programs. In the summer of 2016, the spreadsheets were migrated into an online database within the NSUF website. The NFML inventory has continued to grow with the addition of NSUF-funded project specimens, Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 2 (EBR-II) legacy samples, and donated material from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The online library technology further evolved with upgrades for users and administrators of the database. NFML outreach in FY 2018 included NSUF representatives at conferences and workshops domestically and internationally. This document provides a status report on the NFML for FY 2018.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Verification and Validation of MFiX-PIC

This work is aimed at verification and validation (V&V) of particle-in-cell (PIC) approach in the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFiX-PIC) which was officially released in April 2019. Under verification, the results from MFiX-PIC are compared with exact or analytical solutions, while experimental results are used for benchmarking under validation. The test suite consists of the following cases: Terminal velocity. Particle advection in time-varying flow field. Particle settling in a dense medium. Evaporation. Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Minimum fluidization. Mini-circulating fluidized bed. The cases reported in a format consistent with the existing Verification and Validation Manual (Musser et al., 2018) explore a wide range of flow velocities and concentration regimes. Only one case considered in this work verifies the implementation of heat and mass transfer routines in MFiX-PIC, while a few other studies are currently underway to further expand the validation space in reacting flows. This study highlights the need for a rigorous analysis to objectively quantify the effect of model parameters. In addition, there is a scarcity of high-quality experimental data in the literature suitable for validating PIC methodology. Future efforts would include performing experiments which provide results for a valuable database. While designing such experiments, particle count should be significant to have sufficient particles per parcel while maintaining an optimal parcel to cell volume ratio. Also, datasets should have objectively assessed experimental uncertainty whereby confidence interval in those measurements become more explicit.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

A side-by-side comparison of the solidification dynamics of quasicrystalline and approximant phases in the Al–Co–Ni system

Quasicrystals and their approximants have triggered widespread interest due to the challenge of solving their complex crystal structures as well as their possibly exceptional properties. The structural motifs of approximants are similar to those of the corresponding quasicrystals, but to what extent are their crystallization pathways the same? Unfortunately, there have been very few in situ experimental investigations to answer this question. Here, by leveraging the high penetrating power of hard X-rays, synchrotron-based X-ray tomography was conducted in order to capture the nucleation and growth of a decagonal quasicrystal and its related approximant. The combination of data-driven computational analysis with new thermodynamic databases allowed the characterization, with high precision, of the constitutional and kinetic driving forces for crystallization. The experimental results prove that the growth of both crystals from a liquid is dominated by first-order kinetics. Nevertheless, and somewhat surprisingly, significant differences were observed in their rates of nucleation and growth. The reasons for such divergent behaviours are discussed in light of contemporary theories of intermetallic crystallization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

A data-driven framework for error estimation and mesh-model optimization in system-level thermal-hydraulic simulation

We report over the past decades, several computer codes have been developed for simulation and analysis of thermal-hydraulics and system response in nuclear reactors under operating, abnormal transient, and accident conditions. However, simulation errors and uncertainties still inevitably exist even while these codes have been extensively assessed and used. In this work, a data-driven framework (Optimal Mesh/Model Information System, OMIS) is formulated and demonstrated to estimate simulation error and suggest optimal selection of computational mesh size (i.e., nodalization) and constitutive correlations (e.g., wall functions and turbulence models) for low-fidelity, coarse-mesh thermal-hydraulic simulation, in order to achieve accuracy comparable to that of high-fidelity simulation. Using results from high-fidelity simulations and experimental data with many fast-running low-fidelity simulations, an error database is built and used to train a machine learning model that can determine the relationship between local simulation error and local physical features. This machine learning model is then used to generate insight and help correct low-fidelity simulations for similar physical conditions. The OMIS framework is designed as a modularized six-step procedure and accomplished with state-of-the-art methods and algorithms. A mixed-convection case study was performed to illustrate the entire framework.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Machine-Learning-Driven Discovery of Water Splitting BaFe 2 O 4 and Human-in-the-Loop Improvement via Al-Substitution for Increased Thermal Stability

Thermochemical hydrogen (TCH) production offers a promising method for converting thermal energy into hydrogen fuel through heat-driven redox cycles of metal oxides. Here, in this work a defect graph neural network (dGNN) was used to predict oxygen vacancy formation energies ΔH V O combined with Materials Project predictions of oxygen chemical potential stability to screen candidate oxides via high-throughput database analysis. BaFe 2 O 4 was identified as a promising material for experimental validation based on its predicted ΔH V O , oxygen chemical potential stability range, and potential for tunable substitutions to improve thermal properties. Experimental validation using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), stagnation flow reactor (SFR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron microscopy confirmed positive water-splitting behavior but also revealed limitations in thermal stability under aggressive reduction conditions. To address this, a human-in-the-loop modification strategy was employed introducing Al substitution in BaFe 2–x Al x O 4 ; this modification improves thermal stability, alters the crystal structure and enhances overall performance. These results demonstrate a combined computational and experimental workflow in which machine learning accelerates identification of promising candidates, while targeted experimental design enables optimization of functional performance. This approach advances the development of robust, cost-effective TCH materials and highlights the importance of integrating data-driven discovery with human-guided materials design in paving the way for scalable hydrogen production technologies.

organic↗
DOE OSTI2026

A critical review on additive manufacturing of refractory alloys from a data analytics perspective- beyond nickel-based superalloys

Refractory alloys (RAs) are promising materials due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, but most research remains at the laboratory scale. For broader adoption, advancements in manufacturing are essential. Because their high stability makes conventional methods like machining and casting difficult, additive manufacturing (AM) is emerging as an effective approach for fabricating refractory alloy components. However, AM's repeated non-equilibrium thermal cycles introduce undesired features (e.g. defects, anisotropic microstructures, and residual stresses), which are magnified due to RAs’ unique properties. This paper comprehensively reviews the state-of-the-art methods of AM for refractory alloys. It explores data analytics techniques to establish design rules based on multi-fidelity experimental and computational methods. Furthermore, it investigates integrated, collaborative efforts to harmonise standalone databases, information, knowledge, and predictive models at multi-physics, multi-stage, and multi-scale. Unlike the existing literature that focuses primarily on material systems or process fundamentals, this work provides an integrated perspective on AM of refractory alloys from a data analytics standpoint, highlighting the roles of integrated computational materials engineering (ICME), verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification (VV&UQ), and digital twin-driven qualification in overcoming data scarcity and accelerating rapid qualification.

Additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2015

Computational Assessment of Naturally Occurring Neutron and Photon Background Radiation Produced by Extraterrestrial Sources

In this study, a computational assessment of the variation in terrestrial neutron and photon background from extraterrestrial sources is presented. The motivation of this assessment is to evaluate the practicality of developing a tool or database to estimate background in real time (or near–real time) during an experimental measurement or to even predict the background for future measurements. The extraterrestrial source focused on during this assessment is naturally occurring galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). The MCNP6 transport code was used to perform the computational assessment. However, the GCR source available in MCNP6 was not used. Rather, models developed and maintained by NASA were used to generate the GCR sources. The largest variation in both neutron and photon background spectra was found to be caused by changes in elevation on Earth's surface, which can be as large as an order of magnitude. All other perturbations produced background variations on the order of a factor of 3 or less. The most interesting finding was that ~80% and 50% of terrestrial background neutrons and photons, respectively, are generated by interactions in Earth's surface and other naturally occurring and man-made objects near a detector of particles from extraterrestrial sources and their progeny created in Earth's atmosphere. In conclusion, this assessment shows that it will be difficult to estimate the terrestrial background from extraterrestrial sources without a good understanding of a detector's surroundings. Therefore, estimating or predicting background during a measurement environment like a mobile random search will be difficult.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Community Based Data of Potentiometric Titration of Iron Oxides: Ferrihydrite (HFO), Goethite, Hematite, Magnetite

This data release includes experimental data of potentiometric titration for iron oxides. The data in the provided .csv files is not our own experimental data but have been compiled from the multiple literature sources. The master database is L-SCIE (LLNL Surface Complexation/Ion Exchange) database, and the provided .csv files are extracted data from L-SCIE. The .csv files were obtained by using the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Surface Complexation Database Converter (SCDC) code written in the R programming language (free licensing available at https://ipo.llnl.gov/technologies/software/llnl-surface-complexation-database-converter-scdc).The released data was used for developing a comprehensive community data-driven surface complexation modeling (SCM) framework for simulating potentiometric titration of mineral surfaces. Compiled community data for ferrihydrite, goethite, hematite, and magnetite are fit to produce representative protolysis constants that can reproduce potentiometric titration data collected from multiple literature sources.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reviewing Incident Neutron Energy assignments in 238 U(n,f) Fission Yield Data

Fission yield evaluations rely not only on precise measurements, but also on clear documentation of experimental conditions especially the energy of incident neutrons inducing fission. In the EXFOR database, following the convention adopted in past evaluations, the incident neutron energy has traditionally been divided in only three energy groups: thermal, fast and 14 MeV. The information is stored in the EN-DUMMY field, which often serves as a placeholder in the presence of broad-spectrum or reactor-based sources. This work reviews 238 U(n,f) entries in EXFOR that use EN-DUMMY, identifying cases where better energy estimates can be made based on the original publications, facility characteristics, or reconstructed neutron spectra. We assign new cross-section-weighted average energies where possible. The revised independent and cumulative fission yield data are compiled for future use in model development and evaluation efforts.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1993

An overview of shed ice impact in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel

One of the areas of active research in commercial and military rotorcraft is directed toward developing the capability of sustained flight in icing conditions. The emphasis to date has been on the accretion and subsequent shedding of ice in an icing environment, where the shedding may be natural or induced. Historically, shed-ice particles have been a problem for aircraft, particularly rotorcraft. Because of the high particle velocities involved, damage to a fuselage or other airframe component from a shed-ice impact can be significant. Design rules for damage tolerance from shed-ice impact are not well developed because of a lack of experimental data. Thus, NASA Lewis (LeRC) has begun an effort to develop a database of impact force and energy resulting from shed ice. This effort consisted of a test of NASA LeRC's Model Rotor Test Rig (MRTR) in the Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). Both natural shedding and forced shedding were investigated. Forced shedding was achieved by fitting the rotor blades with Small Tube Pneumatic (STP) deicer boots manufactured by BF Goodrich. A detailed description of the test is given as well as the design of a new impact sensor which measures the force-time history of an impacting ice fragment. A brief discussion of the procedure to infer impact energy from a force-time trace are required for the impact-energy calculations. Recommendations and future plans for this research area are also provided.

Bond, Thomas H.↗